Book Launch: Pakistan’s Wars - An Alternative History | Dr. Tariq Rahman

This book studies the wars Pakistan has fought over the years with India as well as other non-state actors. Focusing on the first Kashmir war (1947-48), the wars of 1965 and 1971, and the 1999 Kargil war, it analyses the elite decision-making, which leads to these conflicts and tries to understand how Pakistan got involved in the first place. The author applies the ‘gambling model’ to provide insights into the dysfunctional world view, risk-taking behaviour, and other behavioural patterns of the decision makers, which precipitate these wars and highlight their effects on India-Pakistan relations for the future. The book also brings to the fore the experience of widows, children, common soldiers, displaced civilians, and villagers living near borders, in the form of interviews, to understand the subaltern perspective.
A nuanced and accessible military history of Pakistan, this book will be indispensable to scholars and researchers of military history, defence and strategic studies, international relations, political studies, war and conflict studies, and South Asian studies.
About the author:
Tariq Rahman has two doctoral degrees: Ph.D (1985) and D.Litt (2014) from the University of Sheffield. He has published 8 books, over 60 articles and several book reviews. He was the first Pakistani to be honoured by one of Germany’s highest awards for academic research called the Humboldt Research Award. The President of Pakistan conferred upon him the Pride of Performance in 2004 and the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2013. He is a Salzburg Seminar fellow (2017), a member of the Common Room at Wolfson College, University of Oxford, a visiting fellow of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics and has been the incumbent of the Pakistan Chair at the University of California, Berkeley and a visiting professor at the University of Aarhus, Denmark and the Peace University in Castellon, Spain. He retired as Director of the National Institute of Pakistan Studies at QAU and is now Dean of the School of Social Sciences at the Beaconhouse National University, Lahore.
This book launch session will be moderated by Dr. A. H.Nayyar.

[@htnaku4947]

Problem is also Anti-Hindu and Anti-India Jihadi and Gazwa Hind Mindset of Pakistan's Establishment and People.

[@tumblevid]

Why don't you guys talk on how religion has an impact on Pakistan situation

[@timerwentoff]

Good point, but I don't think religion has led Pakistani to where the country is today.

[@adity126]

Don’t think religion has to anything to do with it. Most Muslim countries are developed or at least richer than India , Pakistan and other south Asian countries.

[@cocophonix]

Well, most people do

[@dharmascan]

Gaurav Arya😂😂😂 Pakistanis intellectuals are beyond time and space. He is making false equivalents a lot. Pakistani intellectuals dont know India, hindus. Hindu belief system, their views on land, world etc .. their intellectuals tell lies or they dont have honesty. Courtesy to accept counter view. Gone case.

[@mbv1462]

Pakistan returned abhinandan to India not bcz of pakistan wanted peace but bcz Bajwas legs were shaking 😀

[@getevennow]

“Countries that are defeated by their enemies often rebuild. But the countries that are destroyed from within-that's really the end of the line.” ― Stephen Kotkin

[@drao929]

Continued: 3) 01:28:26. Respects to the lady professor who called out the author on the false equivalence of the rapes of Bangladeshi women with the few committed by them as revenge on Pakistani and Bihari soldiers wives and daughters. The author is right. Even one rape is one too many. 4) 01:37:58. Author talks about atrocities on Kashmiris since 1989, but makes no reference to the exodus of Kashmiri pandits from the valley

[@GavIsHti]

This country will never change on the wars started by the military or establishement ..ppl were smiling like it's ok it's normal ..they had no remorse that they are attacking other country ..ppl will die .. there mindset is of warmongers ..

[@Upaasak108]

Until you guys address the anti-Hindu bigotry that is endemic in every nook and corner of your society and institutions, all these discussion are no use at all.

[@Scientist1351]

It might be true that Hindus may have inferiority complex and muslims have superiority complex...but a group pf people who think themselves as superior will always lose as they be against any radical change and truth....no wonder more poor and diverse india is now way ahead!

[@UmeshGupta-sh7nj]

Actually Pakistan as a society has got rotten and beyond repair. Demolish the thought process.

[@marspalk7611]

Bhutto wanted to eat grass and have nuclear weapons. Well he got his wishes.

[@drao929]

Continued... 5) 01:39:30. While replying to the question of Baloch insurgency, the author fails to remind the audience that Balochistan was independent, and militarily annexed by whom? 6) With respect sir, when talking about Dixon solution, and plebiscite in Valley, you could have mentioned that the UN resolution of 1949, required Pakistan to vacate the PoK before a poll could be carried out which they never did. So it was not India, but Pakistan which never wanted a plebiscite as per UN schedule. Their reiterating of the same stand in 1950 proves that they wanted to keep what they grabbed in 1947-48 invasion of Kashmir

[@charlesmauricedetalleyrand7921]

What a warped logic ??? Why should Pakistan have a veto on India-Afghanistan relationship ??? Strange logic. How can one country have any locus standi on a bilateral relationship between 2 countries.

[@SHIVAMYadav-pw5uz]

Because Afghanistan invaders are their heroes....it was their 5th suba supposedly....

[@dineshshetty875]

Pakistanis are eager on fulfilling the dreams of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, of "eating grass rotis"...

[@randmht9976]

False Equivalence of Pakiatan's Treatment of Bangladeshis with whatever treatment you accuse of India in Kashmir with people of Kashmir who support pakiatani Terrorists against India. FALSE EQUIVALENCE as the lady said.

[@charlesmauricedetalleyrand7921]

Also if TTP were indian agents , why are the attacking you now when your brethren the Talibs are in power in Afghanistan . If this is the state of intellectuals in Pakistan , God help us !!

[@ibratnak]

They want Pakistan to deploy most of its forces on the western border so India can move in and snatch Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

[@Sourabh-1920]

Why should Bangladesh apologize to Urdu speaking Biharis and Pakistanis?? The war was started by the West and the Biharis took their side and committed war crimes against Bengalis. If some atrocities were committed against Biharis , it was because of WP. If they had not started the war then the events would not have happened..Pakistan should apologize to Bengalis and Biharis.

[@cocophonix]

You guys seriously need to get a life and move on. India did.

[@dharmascan]

Enjoy

[@jidrit999]

what jokers these guys. shameless barely told any of brutal hindu genocide in 1971

[@sachya2876]

Unless Pakistan accepts that they are a failed state and acknowledge all the challenges that country is facing (primarily inflicted upon by Military establishment and Political parties and their B.S.) - things will never change for better for Pakistan society ! People will continue to suffer and country will eventually get destroyed to lose in oblivion ! The mindset of animosity should evolve into a mindset of enlightenment among the people of Pakistan. It is imperative that they study the remarkable transformation stories of countries such as India and Bangladesh, which have faced similar challenges as Pakistan. Despite even greater challenges arising from their larger populations, India and Bangladesh have successfully embarked on the path of progress and continue to thrive where as Pakistan is going in opposite direction with notorious reputation as a beggar state / failed state !

[@rameshsnayar]

I am surprised at the number of Indians watching this channel, more Indians than Pakistanis in fact, from the comments It seems like Indians are more interested in Pakistani history than the Pakistanis themselves

[@exerjiexerji289]

1:59:19 Sorry Sir. If India was to accept the third option - of independent Kashmir - it'll be kissing goodbye to secularism on Indian soil. It will be as good as admitting that wherever Muslims exceed a given % of population, they'll demand so. It has long since been about Islam as the elephant in the room and not Kashmiriyat. As someone keen on India remaining plural, it'll not be possible to let go of Kashmir on religious lines and still defend status quo in rest of India.

[@ChefbyMistake]

Mental People.

[@drao929]

Continued.. 7) 02:11:30. The young man's anguish at the wrong history taught in Pakistani books and how long will it take to correct the country is a miror to your society. People misled by vested interests for 75 years that India is an enemy. 8) 02:14:45 onwards. The cat is finally out of the bag. "East Pakistan was a stone which finally passed out of the stomach, we are very relaxed " uttered by a cabinet minister soon after dismemberment of Pakistan! Finance Minister of Peoples Party, Feroze Kausar. Good riddance theory! What more evidence of Racism is needed.

[@MaradonaVsPele]

G20 summit and Miss World contests are being held in Kashmir. So forget Kashmir and save POK, GB

[@vikashmeenaji7801]

pakistani lecturing on morality 😂🤣🤣

[@hawkingdawking4572]

You even don't have a morality to speak of. Don't worry. Keep your jealousy. It's a good compliment. Your hyper-religious and high-censored society wouldn't allow any such program with freedom that even Pakistanis can have. Red golf hole flag ⛳🚩 ...😂

[@sandeepkumarkhuntia8839]

First accept your hindu origin and then become intellectual otherwise a hypocracy.

[@saravananperiyasamy5730]

The matter of pakistan ..All wars successfully started by pak army generals Neither Given Green signal by President of Pakistan nor prime minister of pakistan .

[@PP-jf3tp]

Can anyone post the link to UN report on India training TTP in Afghanistan? Unless there is proof it cant be accepted as truth

[@youtubewatcherdesi]

Delusional questioner from Maroon jacket man about India supporting insurgency in Pk. If anything, India has been accused of being pacifist against aggressors. They don't have the Western and Pakistani mentality.

[@Peaceful_co]

Sir it's a false acclamation that India was involved in the Afghan war. We have a strong & sustainable policy for a long time that we should not meddling a proxy war that faught in another country's sovereign state/land.

[@agonnoga6100]

1971 was a death blow to the very idea of Pakistan being a home for Muslims of South Asia. Situation that led to the separation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan is again getting visible. Separation of East Pakistan not only led to loss of more than 50% of Pakistan's population, but also 50% of Pakistan's economy and source of more than 50% Pakistan's foreign exchange earnings. Without an economy no country can exist. Bangladesh leaving Pakistan behind on almost every Indicator will raise uncomfortable questions.

[@devendrasinghdalal2900]

That is a lie. Please read the book of Maj General Malik who lead Pakistan Army in civil clothes into Kashmir as raiders. In Kuchh UK was made arbitrator which sided with Pakistan and Pakistan became bold execute 1965 war.

[@Goldstar-89]

One or two suggestions to the videographer who covers these lectures (1) Whenever the speaker is showing some texts or maps on the screen, don't show the speaker ,but focus only on the screen & let the speaker's voice be heard simultaneously. (2) Also while showing the text , focus properly on the screen. In this episode many a times , text is not readable , being out of focus.

[@kpdwivedi1672]

This video is pretty old. All attendees are putting on woolen clothes. But timing shown in is just shown is 14 hrs

[@GK-ui8fv]

In spite of writing a good book, there is a limit to being rational, he thinks that Pakistan can be reforme. But, he doesn't realise, giving hope to people doesn't change anything as the future can't be changed by mere wishes. By having solution to Kashmir wouldn't change the economic affairs of Pakistan. People don't pay enough taxes, they want to steal money from govt, they want to run away from Pakistan and above all, army as well as elites think they are entitled to privileges and they along with other elites don't have empathy for any common people. Who will bring land reform, give freedom to bonded labour, minorities.

[@ramnabi8973]

1965 mein INDIA NEIN LAHORE AUR SIALKOT PAR HUMLA KIA EAST PAKISTAN PAR HUMLA KAYUN NAHEIN KIA THA JUB K WAHAN ARMY NAHEIN THEE?

[@robinshrivastav]

If letter of accession by princely states was the core fact joining pak or India then Maharaja Harisingh had signed letter of accession in favour of India; there upon if referendum in accordance to UN in whole JK in which pak forces had to first withdraw and then referendum to took place; it was also denied by Pak; in such case now letter of accession by Maharaja Hari Singh is the legitimate document for sovereignty of India on PoK, if Pak wants to have good relation with India and prosperity then Pak must hand over pok to India and concentrate for development in which India would also come forward helping pak in its development. Pakistani should remove hatred against Hindus. But I am sure that good advices would not be welcome in Pak.

[@rishikant3]

The way you have trivialised the Bengali revolt saying that they were unsatisfied by being called 'Kala aur chota' !!! Very unfortunate!!!

[@unmuktyatree8200]

Dr Sahib is great presenter with Intellect and loves to share his knowledge

[@getevennow]

"Cut your defense budget to the bare minimum and siphon those funds to initiatives empowering parents nd teachers, and within fifty years your nation will become a super-power. - ― Abhijit Naskar, Şehit Sevda Society: Even in Death I Shall Live

[@AshishKumar-bo3eb]

Major Gaurav Arya ka aisa khauf😂😂😂😂😂 Pakistan ka khuda hi haafiz hai.

[@drao929]

Notwithstanding the deficiencies in your talk I pointed out, my respects from India and Kudos for your efforts at rectification of the history of1965 and 1971 wars of Pakistan on India taught in your country.

[@dilbagsingh-h6c]

My India is great never used by any country for their own benefits

[@publicresponses]

The reason of change of command was the leader was ahemedi he was replaced over night

[@Agnostic-1]

Pakistani plz religion se aage bhi kuch socho.religion ke bahar bhi ek khubsurat duniya hai. 'Humanity' naam ke ek word hai English dictionary may.woh pata Karo pakistani ❤

[@robeenhood]

I am surprised that such outspoken writers are there in Pakistan and they can write such books and discuss it. Hope this will create informed generations in Pakistan and in India too. Love from India....

[@existen1075]

Ultimately for pakistani mindset they won every war except 71

[@publicresponses]

They didn't was to give credit to ahemedi

[@drao929]

Thank you Prof. Rahman for a clear and insightful analysis. A few more insights during discussion session would have further clarified the issues under discussion to the youngsters in your audience. 1. At 19:30, You spoke.... "The govt conducted the plebiscite in Junagadh " but your slide text is "This government..." . You seem to be hinting that Pak govt held the referendum. It was in fact India which held the referendum. Why not state it clearly that India held a referendum? And that 99.95% voted for India. Only 100 odd votes for Pakistan versus 1,90, 870 for India. Perhaps it will weaken your country's stand that India was against referendum in Kashmir. And why not enlighten your audience that Pakistan did not accept the plebiscite result then and even in 2020 showed a map of Pakistan with Junagadh and Kashmir in it. Sir, it is a pathological mindset which you should have stated more explicitly. 2) 20:21: Gilgit Baltistan was made independent by people themselves? Is that the complete story? And again at 02:01:22. "No shred of evidence that British had a plan that Kashmir should remain a problem between India and Pakistan." While this is true Sir, but then why not mention all the evidence cited that there was a Great Game afoot for the British to have a hold in Gilgit-Baltistan. You know about Capt Brown. Pl read: The Untold Story of India's Partition by Narendra Kumar Sarila. He was ADC to Mountbatten during the crucial years of 1947-48

[@shahanshah2223]

Good assessment. Pakistan Army leadership has gone rogue.Citizens of Pakistan deserve better🇵🇰

[@getevennow]

“They won the war but lost the peace,” ― Jonathan Maberry, Rot & Ruin You can loose a war but win the peace. We lost both the war and also the peace.

[@hkalgaonkar]

It is sad to see that sane voices are mardinalized, ignored in Pakistan. Good discussion.

[@divyasethi8499]

Dr. Tariq Rahman sahib, you have an imposing personality. I like your way of explaining history. I enjoyed this video.

[@sanjeevbhattacharjee1936]

Whataboutery at its best …a defeatist’s narrative

[@TheMinzer]

What about the lost of Siachen by Pakistan in 1984

[@RISWANFFFF]

1:32:47 RYBHU6Q2HCDHfukyc

[@publicresponses]

Very good and excellent articulated discussion, much of praise from India

[@AshokGupta-oq6hs]

Sirs,Kashmir has been bone of contention since 1947. Pakistan's case is based on 2/3rd majority muslim population India's case has 3 aspects. 1.Azad Kashmir with Pakistan due to Pakistan army backed tribal incursion in 1947. 2.Accession to India by Maharaja as the princely state in 1947. 3.India has about 200 million muslims living in india as indian citizens,and Kashmir muslims will add another 8 million to muslim population in India.

[@SomnathDe-h7d]

Watched from India.

[@raizameer3728]

Your point of view is more Personal biased rather than rational۔

[@AliHaider-yj4rw]

I went through some of the books that discuss the change of command. In those books, it is said that there were two reasons: one was generally Ayoub's closeness to Yahya, and the second was that General Akhtar Malik was an Ahmadi.

[@ChomchomMS]

Thanks to Almighty creator that Bangladesh has been saved. Otherwise Bangladesh would have situation like Baluchistan or Afghanistan

[@nissarguru-xg1wx]

Pakistan needs to understand that ethnic Kashmiri Muslims who are the majority will never join Pakistan. We are far too independent minded for that.

[@maximilian9454]

One of the best sessions on the blackhole 👌👍 I have saved this video for my future reference.

[@nissarguru-xg1wx]

Highly immature to expect India to not help the ppl of Afghanistan with aid such as roads , Dams, wheat etc

[@AshokGupta-oq6hs]

Sirs, Kashmir issue is essentially a hindu-muslim issue, and it is going to stay, for how long,difficult to surmise.

[@gajananranade9429]

I too clapped after listening him... Well done, and documented..

[@criticaldimension1615]

What this gentleman says pretty much matches with what India has always been saying...

[@nissarguru-xg1wx]

Pakistan, always being too clever by half.

[@devendrasinghdalal2900]

Means that Gen Akbar khan lied in his book, Raiders of Kashmir.

[@adilshahzad4730]

نہ تیتر نہ بٹیر، نہ انگریزی نہ اردو۔ بس قوم کا یہی المیہ ہے۔

[@aqeelshaikh4279]

What Lies

[@sanjeevnegi8132]

Sr ji aap English m video bnaa rhe ho a bhut glt kr rhe ho a socho Pakistan m jitne log smjh skte hai

[@yashpednekar331]

Kya fekta hai.

[@raamneupane]

What seeds planted by Khan, he is harvesting same seeds ,take it normal

[@prabhashjha7796]

Was this video recorded late last year or earlier this year? Cuz i see people wearing winter clothes

[@youknow6968]

Bhutto's policy came after 3 decades of constant, and direct interference by Afghanistan in Pakistan, trying to cause instability, directly and indirectly, they even attacked Pakistan on couple of occasions. The Bhutto's policy was merely to say, enough is enough. The Soviet invasion as represented by him is just ridiculous, and I'm tired of correcting this fool of an academic.

[@byheart308]

Proud to be a student of Dr Tariq Rehman

[@CIVILS_PREP_ACADEMY]

What a talk...kudos to Prof. !!

[@sumitsoral]

Rogue

[@IndianEyes2]

i appreciate your work because most of the people of pakistan not aware about their own history and also i suggest you to tell them their ancestor were hindu taki wo hindu ko apna bhai he smje vse zaroorat nahi hai pr apke aisa krne se insaniyat zinda hogi unme or unki dilo ki nafrat kam hogi

[@IndianEyes2]

but sir main apki ek baar se agree nahi krta ki India me momin ko terrorist kehte hai . idk where did you here it but maine aaj tk nahi suna